e36 - Aircon Fuse keeps blowing

[Anscheepers]

Guys

I hate asking questions so soon after joining the forum, but I picked up a problem yesterday that I though I'd seek some help with.

The fuse the powers the solenoid clutch via the aircon relay (Fuse 39) keeps blowing. I see that its supposed to be a 7.5A, but the one that was in was a 20A. I replaced it with a 20A again and it only lasted about five minutes. What could be causing this?

IT's on a e36 328i cabrio.

 

[calypso]

Happened on my e36, ended up being a wire which the insulation had worn thin and was causing it to short.
Auto electrician fixed it for me.

P.S. Use the correct fuse unless your insured against fire.

 

[Anscheepers]

Happened on my e36, ended up being a wire which the insulation had worn thin and was causing it to short.
Auto electrician fixed it for me.

P.S. Use the correct fuse unless your insured against fire.

Thanks calypso. I'll see if I can find it. I agree on using the correct fuse. I only had a look this morning to see what size it was supposed to be.

P.S: Is that hamster with you on your avatar pic?

 

[calypso]

Happened on my e36, ended up being a wire which the insulation had worn thin and was causing it to short.
Auto electrician fixed it for me.

P.S. Use the correct fuse unless your insured against fire.

Thanks calypso. I'll see if I can find it. I agree on using the correct fuse. I only had a look this morning to see what size it was supposed to be.

P.S: Is that hamster with you on your avatar pic?

Yeah that was a while back. Must update the photo.

 

[Raybimmer]

Check the wire going down to the plug that goes on the top of the aircon . This wire comes back up behind the water bottle .
There is a wire on top of the aircon compressor as well , then you need a monkeys hands or start removing parts .
The 20 amp fuse blows so your wiring may get warm with 20 amps , how far can you go before the plastic insulation burns ?
Good luck .

 

[Anscheepers]

Check the wire going down to the plug that goes on the top of the aircon . This wire comes back up behind the water bottle .
There is a wire on top of the aircon compressor as well , then you need a monkeys hands or start removing parts .
The 20 amp fuse blows so your wiring may get warm with 20 amps , how far can you go before the plastic insulation burns ?
Good luck .

Thanks. I agree that it's risky, I'll certainly be putting back the smaller fuse

 

[dtarrant]

Check the wire going down to the plug that goes on the top of the aircon . This wire comes back up behind the water bottle .
There is a wire on top of the aircon compressor as well , then you need a monkeys hands or start removing parts .
The 20 amp fuse blows so your wiring may get warm with 20 amps , how far can you go before the plastic insulation burns ?
Good luck .

Thanks. I agree that it's risky, I'll certainly be putting back the smaller fuse

Hi,

I'm having the same problem with the same fuse only i found a 30A fuse in mine, i replaced it with a 30 a couple of times before reading the correct amp but it kept blowing as soon as the ac switch was pressed regardless.
I had my engine replaced a few months ago so i'm wondering if during that process a wire got stripped or something.
Did you find what was causing yours to blow?

 

[Anscheepers]

Check the wire going down to the plug that goes on the top of the aircon . This wire comes back up behind the water bottle .
There is a wire on top of the aircon compressor as well , then you need a monkeys hands or start removing parts .
The 20 amp fuse blows so your wiring may get warm with 20 amps , how far can you go before the plastic insulation burns ?
Good luck .

Thanks. I agree that it's risky, I'll certainly be putting back the smaller fuse

Hi,

I'm having the same problem with the same fuse only i found a 30A fuse in mine, i replaced it with a 30 a couple of times before reading the correct amp but it kept blowing as soon as the ac switch was pressed regardless.
I had my engine replaced a few months ago so i'm wondering if during that process a wire got stripped or something.
Did you find what was causing yours to blow?

---

Hi,

I'm having the same problem with the same fuse only i found a 30A fuse in mine, i replaced it with a 30 a couple of times before reading the correct amp but it kept blowing as soon as the ac switch was pressed regardless.
I had my engine replaced a few months ago so i'm wondering if during that process a wire got stripped or something.
Did you find what was causing yours to blow?

Yes and no, I removed the entire harness from between the rad and body, but couldn't find the short. I put it back and it's been fine ever since.

 

[dtarrant]

Hmmm I'm guessing that what ever was shorting may have stopped when you removed the harness.
I found my fault in the end but haven't fixed it yet, the wire going into the compressor had been stripped during an engine replacement about a year ago, further investigation revealed that the wiring going to the fuse socket have also started to melt away.
Could be a long weekend pulling it all out and re wiring the loom....